Combination mixer



March 30, 1943. E. G. EPPENBACH 2,315,251

' COMBINATION MIXER Filed June 25,-1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR FDW/A/ a PPEA/BACH HIS A'ITORNEY March 30, 1943.

E. G. EPPENBACH COMBINATION MIXER v Filed Jun 2s,

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FDW/N 6.6'PP6'NB/1CH HIS ATTORNEY March 30, 1943. E. G. EPPENBACH COMBINATION MIXER 4 SheetsSheet 3 Filed June 25, 1941 INVENTOR fflW/A/ 6. EPPE/VBACH HIS ATTORNEY I COMBINATION MIXER Filed June 25, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 :oww a. EPPE/VBACH H l5 ATI'ORNEY Patented Mar. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT (OFFICE COMBINATION MIXER Edwin Eppenbach, Manhunt, N. Y. Application June 25, 1941, Serial No. 399,580

9 Claim.

This invention relates to the method of homogenizing liquid and semi-liquid matter, and a device for practicing that method.

One of the objects of the present invention is the method of producing from solid and liquid matter, or from liquids of varying fluidity, a thoroughly mixed and homogenized mass, by subjecting such matter to at least two steps of agitation, wherein the first step comprises a mixing operation taking place in one direction, while the second step is an agitation of the mixed mass, taking place in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the mixing operation, and wherein the second step of agitation preferably commences at a certain period after the first step of agitation started, and continues together with the first step of agitation until the matter is homogenized to the desired degree.

Another object of the present invention is a device wherein the above-stated process may be effectively practiced.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a homogenizing device consisting of a combination of agitators, one of which is of the mixing type, while the other operates upon the turbine principle, both being actuable independently of'one another and being so constructed as to agitate a mass in at least two directions, which are substantially perpendicular to one another.

Another obj ect-of this invention is to provide a device of the class indicated, wherein the agitator combination may be bodily removed from the mixing chamber, and wherein the chamber may be bodily swung to an emptying or cleaning position.

The foregoing and a number of other objects and important advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the ensuing description of the accompanying drawings, which latter, although showing a few presently preferred forms, are by no means intended to restrict this invention to the specific construction indicated, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of my device with a portion thereof broken off;

Fig. 2 is a fragmental, enlarged, detail, sectional view of one form of my device;

Fig. 3 is a partial top view of the device;'

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged detail View of the impeller type agitator of my device; and

Fig. 5 illustrates a modified form of my device with an outswung agitator assembly and tilted mixing chamber.

The device oi! the present invention fundamentally consists of a mixing chamber or vessel,

' paddle elements passing centrally into in which operate what may be broadly termed two types of agitators, one being essentially a mixer, while the other is essentially a turbulence producing device. The mixer is oi! a paddle construction and operates in one direction, thereby imparting to the contents of the vessel a motion in the direction of its operation, say a horizontal movement. The other agitator is essentially of a turbine construction and is designed to move the contents of the vessel in a direction substantially perpendicular to that imparted thereto by the mixer.

Referring now specifically to the figures, M designates the mixer, and the letter T the turbine or turbulence producing activator.

The device includes an open framework III, to which are secured mountings Ii (see Figs. 1 and 3), provided with supporting ledges I2, upon which rest lugs l3 for the suspension of a,mixing vessel l4. Mountings H are bridged by a removable motors supporting member l5, upon which are placed horizontal motor I6 and vertical motor l1. Below motor I! is a gear housing i8 (see Fig. 2), provided with a reduced neck portion I9, forming an interior supporting ledge for thrust bearing 20. The latter serves for journaling a rotary sleeve member 2|, which is the outermost member of a telescoping assembly mixing vessel I4.

The mixer M comprises a suspenion arm 22, securedwith its hub 23 to outermost member 2! of the telescoping assembly. This suspension arm supports at 24 a yoke 25, from which extends radially inwards a plurality of mixing elements 26 in the form of inclined paddles or blades. Rotary sleeve member 2| is broadened and flanged at its upper end at 21, to which flange is secured a worm gear 28, driven by a worm 29. The latter is keyed upon shaft 30, which latter is coupled at 3! with shaft 32 01' motor l6. Above worm gear 28 there is a flanged collar 33, which is suspended from base 34 oi motor ll. To flanged collar 33 is secured stationary telescoping tubular member 35, which passes through outer rotary sleeve member 2|, and extends towards the bottom of vessel 14. Secured to tubular member 35 are stationary 36 of the mixer, disposed between rotary elements 26 thereof. Near the lower end of member 35 is provided a guide flange 31, which is capable of rotating about that member, and from which flange extend bracing elements 38 to yoke 25, by which arrangement the yoke is efiectively guided at its lower end. The above enumerated items complete the presently preferred form of the mixer.

Turbine agitator T consists of a stator and a rotor or impeller. The stator is composed of an upper member 39 and a detachable, lower member 40, which latter is provided with combination stiifening and guide ribs 4i for directing matter to the central opening 42 provided in the lower member. Upper member 58 has a plurality of openings or pockets 43 communicating with the space above the agitator. Member 39 is provided with-an attaching hub 44, which is secured in any convenient manner, such as by means of set screws 45, with the reduced lower end of stationary telescoping member 35. This member also carries a deflector 46, the purpose of which will be presently explained.

Passing through stationary telescoping memher 35 is the innermost telescoping member 41,

which forms an extension of the shaft of vertical motor H. Member 41 is joumaled in bearings 48. lodged in motor base 34, and extend with its threaded reduction 49 into the stator of the agitator. To threaded reduction 49 is attached the rotor or impeller 50 of the agitator. The latter is in the form of a turbin structure with inclined blades 5|, which extend from an interior opening 52 (see Fig. 4), towards the walls of pockets 43 of the stator. Member 41 of the telescoping assembly is connected by means of coupling 53 with vertical motor I1, and operates independently of outermost rotary sleeve 2 I, driven by motor l5 through the gear transmission already mentioned.

It will be observed that vessel I4 is provided with a bottom opening 54, which is intended to serve as an inlet, but may serve as an outlet or as a circulating passage for the contents of the vessel. In Fig. 1 the vessel is shown. being provided with a jacket 55 for the purpose of either heating or cooling the contents of vessel M. in which case bottom outlet 54 is formed to a neck or spout which passes through jacket 55 at 58.

Operation As indicated, the device is intended to perform a combined function of mixing and agitating the contents of the vessel. The operation of mixer M imparts to the mass contained in the vessel a horizontal motion, whereas agitator T moves the already mixed mass in a vertical upward direction. It is the intent of the present invention to first mix the contents of the vessel by first starting the operation of mixer M, and when the mixing operation has reached a certain desired stage, to start the agitation of the mixture by turbine T. The latter operates at a much greater speed than the mixer. It sucks the contents of the vessel into its central opening 42 by the force of impeller 50, and forces it through pockets 43 of the stator in upwards direction, and towards deflector 48, which latter diverts the thus agitated mass outwardly and against th rotating blades of the mixer. It will be observed that deflector 46 is disposed between the uppermost rotary blades and support 22 of the yoke.

Depending upon the material to be mixed, the periods of operation of the mixer and of the agitator are determined. Also the correct moment at which the agitator commences to operate is governed by the degree of fluidity or consistency of the mass, previously subjected to the mixing treatment. Although it is the intention of this invention to first. operate the mixer, and subsequently actuate the turbine, when the mixed mass reaches a certain physical state at which an additional agitation may be properly and advantageously introduced, there cannot be set any fixed rule as to which or the two instnimentalities are to function first. Obviously both may be operated independently, at any desired sequence, or may work simultaneously. For this purpose I have provided entirely independent power means for each of the instrumentalities, which may be controlled at will.

The principle of this invention evidently involves not only a common or simple mixing operation, but an agitation whereby a mass becomes thoroughly homogenized. This is accomplished by imparting to the mass a forceful flow at substantially right angular direction to that induced by the mixing operation. It is to be noted that the turbine agitator has an additionally'important function, in that its blades ii, in conjunction with the walls of pocket 43, are designed to provide a mincing operation, to which such particles of the mass in the vessel are necessarily subjected which are not sufllciently broken up by the mixer.

M odiflcation In Figs. 1 to 3 my device is shown mounted upon a supporting frame in in such a manner that for the purpose of cleaning, repair or the like both the mixing and agitation instrumentalities as well as the vessel must b detached from the frame in order to render them accessible. In Fig. 5 another embodiment of my machine is illustrated, wherein frame 51 is provided with a modified upper structure 58, in which are provided bearlugs for trunnion 59, supporting vessel 60. This vessel normally assumes th horizontal, broken line position, but may be tilted at least degrees to its full line position, shown in this figure, at which position it may be emptied. Similarly the combined instrumentalities of mixer and agitator are mounted upon a bridging support 6i which is hinged at 62 and may be completely swung out from within the mixing vessel, so that the latter may be tilted as stated. In order to prevent an excessive outswing of bridging support 6|, suitable stop means, such as bracket 63, are provided for supporting mixer motor end I6.

In the foregoing description specific structures of my device were dealt with. Obviously my invention cannot be confined to such specific forms, inasmuch as for various purposes and uses alterations of structural details will be required, and for this reason I reserve for myself the right to make changes and improvements in the construction of the device in order to adapt the latter for different uses, without departing from the broad intent of my invention, comprising the process of producing a homogenized mixture through the introduction of agitation in at least two directions, and the means whereby such two-directional agitation is accomplished.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class indicated, a supporting frame, a vessel normally suspended therein in a horizontal position, operative instrumentalities normally extending into the normally suspended vessel and being also supported by the frame, but from above the vessel, said instrumentalities comprising a mixer and an impeller type agitator, the mixer consisting of stationary and movable elements, the latter being adapted to rotate in a substantially horizontal direction within the vessel; said agitator comprising a stator and an-impeller, the latter being adapted produce agitation in a substantially vertical direction, combination actuating means for said mixer and said impeller comprising an assembly of telescoping members extending into the vessel, one of the members serving as driver for the imneller of the agitator, another stationary member suspending the stator of the agitator and the stationary elements of the mixer, a deflector also carried by said other member, and a third member serving as driver for the movable elements of the mixer; motive and power transmission means arranged for the driver members of said actuating means, said motive means being designed to operate the drivers either separately or together, when desired.

2. In a device of the class indicated, as set forth in claim 1, said vessel being swingable in the frame. and said motive means and said operative instrumentalities being swingable into or out of the vessel, said stationary and movable elements of the mixer comprising inclined blades, a yoke forming the support for said movable elements from which the latter extend radially inwards.

3. In a combination mixing and homogenizing device, a vessel, an individually driven horizontally operative mixer removably secured in said vessel, an individually driven impeller type agitator disposed near the bottom of the vessel and designed to force matter in the vessel in a vertical direction, means for deflecting the vertical flow of matter against the mixer, and individually controlled motive means for the mixer and the agitator, whereby the operation of either may be governed, said mixer and agitator comprising a normally vertically disposed mounting consisting of a plurality of telescoping members, the innermost member forming drive means for the impeller of the agitator, the next member bein stationary and forming the support for the stator of the agitator and for stationary blades of the mixer, and the outermost member forming the drive means for the movable blades of the mixer.

4. In a combination mixing and homogenizing device, a vessel, an individually driven horizontally operative mixer removably secured in said vessel, an individually driven impeller type agitator disposed near the bottom of the vessel and designed to force matter in the vessel in a vertical direction, means for deflecting the vertical flow of matter against the mixer, and individually controlled motive means for the mixer and the agitator, whereby the operation of either may be governed, said mixer and agitator comprising a normally vertically disposed mounting consisting of a plurality of telescoping members, the innermost member forming drive means for the impeller of the agitator, the next member being stationary and forming the support for the stator of the agitator and for sattionary blades of the mixer, and the outermost member forming the drive means for the movable blades of the mixer, said movable mixer blades extending from a yoke secured to said outermost member.

5. In a combination mixing and homogenizing device, a vessel, an individually driven horizontally operative mixer removably secured in said vessel, an individually driven impeller type agitator disposed near the bottom of the vessel and designed to force matter in the vessel in a vertical direction, means for deflecting the vertical flow of matter against the mixer, and individually controlled motive means for the mixer and the agitator, whereby the operation of either may be governed, said mixer and agitator comprising a normally vertically disposed mounting consisting of a plurality of telescoping members, the innermost member forming drive means for the impeller of the agitator, the next member being stationary and forming the support for the stator of the agitator and for stationary blades of the mixer, and the outermost member forming the drive means for the movable blades of the mixer, said movable mixer blades extending from a yoke secured to said outermost member, and a deflector carried by said stationary member below the attachment of the yoke and above the uppermost movable blades supported from the yoke.

6. In a combination mixing and homogenizing device, a vessel, a telescopic drive extending into the vessel and comprising at least two individually operable drive units, individual agitators associated with each drive unit, one of said agitators being adapted to produce a horizontal agitation, the other agitator being adapted to produce an axial agitation, perpendicular and centrally in respect to the horizontal agitation, and means for deflecting the direction of flow produced by the axial agitation through said other agitator into the path of operation of the one agitator and towards the wall of the vessel.

'7. In a combination mixing and homogenizing device, a vessel, a telescopic drive extending into the vessel and comprising at least two individually operable drive units, individual agitators associated with each drive unit, one of said agitators being adapted to produce a horizontal agitation, the other agitator being adapted to produce an axial agitation, perpendicular and centrally in respect to the horizontal agitation, and means for'deflecting the direction of flow produced by the axial agitation through said other agitator into the path of operation of the one agitator and towards the wall of the vessel, said other agitator possessing means for breaking up or mincing all matter passing through the agitator.

8. In a homogenizing and mixing device, two individually operable agitating means, telescopic drive means for both agitating means: one of the agitating means having spaced, horizontally operative elements, and stationary elements disposed in the spaces between the operative elements; the other agitating means comprising stator and rotor members, adapted to produce a combined axial, vertical agitation and a minclng operation afiecting all matter passing through the members; and deflector means in the path of the axial flow produced by said other agitating means, for directing matter into the path of operation of the first agitating means.

9. In a homogenizing and mixing device, a telescopic drive comprising two individually actuated drive units, a blade mixer, operative in one direction, associated with one or the units, a combination impeller and grinder, adapted to produce agitation in a direction perpendicular to that induced by the blade mixer, driven by the other unit, and means in the path of the matter agitated by the impeller for deflecting that matter into the path of operation of the blade mixer.

EDWIN G. EP'PENBACH. 

